Linear Calibration of Lithostatic Stress Maps Without Re-simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current basin modeling techniques face challenges in accurately predicting lithostatic stress, which is crucial for well planning, as they often require re-simulation and are time-consuming, and struggle to calibrate models effectively with new well data.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that generate mean lithostatic density maps from lithostatic stress maps, using well log data to calculate and extract density values, and apply linear regression to derive calibration coefficients for calibrating lithostatic stress in basin models, allowing for updated stress maps without re-simulating the basin model.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If basin modeling is used to predict lithostatic stress, then stress predictions can be generated, but the process is time-consuming and requires re-simulation for calibration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the calibration process from the full basin modeling simulation. Instead of re-simulating the entire basin model to calibrate lithostatic stress, the method extracts only the necessary calibration coefficients by comparing mean lithostatic densities from well logs with those from the existing stress map, thereby eliminating the time-consuming re-simulation step while maintaining calibration accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary extraction of mean lithostatic density values from the existing lithostatic stress map before calibration. By pre-processing the stress map to obtain density distributions and comparing them with well log data in advance, the method prepares calibration coefficients that can be directly applied without requiring time-consuming iterative re-simulation of the complete basin model
2Reliability
If traditional calibration methods are used, then model accuracy can be improved, but the process is complex and requires iterative re-simulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the calibration task from the complex iterative re-simulation process. By extracting mean lithostatic density values from the existing stress map and comparing them directly with well log measurements, the method obtains calibration coefficients through a simplified process that avoids the complexity of iterative model re-simulation while maintaining reliable calibration results
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical simulation-based calibration process with a direct computational comparison approach. Instead of using iterative re-simulation of geological processes, the method substitutes a straightforward calculation that compares mean lithostatic densities from well logs with those derived from the existing stress map, yielding calibration coefficients through simple linear regression
Data Source
AI summary
A method, a system, and a non-transitory computer readable medium to calibrate a lithostatic stress map of a particular geological layer in a basin model are described. The lithostatic stress map is generated by simulating the basin model and calibrated based on available well data without re-simulating the basin model. In particular, the calibration is based on the mean lithostatic density, which is a constant value of density that yields a value of lithostatic stress equivalent to the lithostatic stress at the same depth produced by the existing column of rocks in the basin.